COUNTDOWN DAY 6 to the 150th anniversary of the famous Battle of Lissa, and a chance to win a signed copy of the book about the ship’s surgeon who was there.

The Seehund sailed alongside large vessels, a small, single-gunned wooden warship nipping among the tall-masted frigates. Tegetthoff’s fleet hove into view. Painted sleek, threatening black, in total they were twenty-six ships, and seven of them were ironclads. Word came: bombarding of Lissa’s port had begun. Further word: the Italian flotilla was twice as big as Austria’s. Worse, twelve of these were modern ironclads, nine even had iron hulls.

For a chance to win a copy of The Extraordinary Dr Epstein, answer the quiz question on Wednesday 20 July 2016.

Excerpt from Chapter 20, Battle. Ephraim’s epic poem about the battle won him an award from Emperor Franz Joseph. Author great granddaughter still seeks that poem! Go HERE for a non-fiction page on the famous Battle of Lissa, why it was fought, what else it is famous for and what happened next.

Doctors praise Dr Epstein

Dr James LeFanu, medical columnist in the DAILY TELEGRAPH (London) says: 'so impressed... beautifully woven... so many of the major strands of the 19th century -- the Diaspora, cultural conflicts, the certainties of religion in people's lives and the rise of science.'

Neurologist reviewer on Amazon says: 'Dr Epstein's career certainly merits the 'extraordinary' label in the title... I was swept away by the story, tautly and beautifully written. I particularly liked the sections on medicine, as practised at the time'

LIVING WITH EPHRAIM
I've lived under the influence of Ephraim M Epstein my whole life. He's my great grandfather, an amazing, incorrigible man whose story just had to be told. I chose to write The Extraordinary Dr Epstein as a biographical novel the better to know him psychologically and emotionally.

Published in paperback by Paxton Publishing in May 2016, and in ebook, it's a sweeping saga with twists and turns of fate and determination -- all true! Ephraim's fans and relations are scattered wide over the world, where better than the web to follow him. Join me on the journey -- Susan Lee Kerr